Modern art and architecture reject traditional harmony and form, intentionally breaking with the past and seemingly deliberately disregarding beauty. This revolution in art is a sign of an even more profound revolution in the understanding of the human person and the desire to change Western civilization radically.
Is Beauty Worth It? Doesn't it Cost Too Much?
No! Beauty Transforms Us Spritually, Invokes the Principle of Superabundance that Generates Wealth for All, and Inspires Us to Love the Poor.
As St Francis of Assisi understood, beauty is a common-good, beneficial spiritually, to all who encounter it, rich and poor alike. But second, the poor will benefit materially as well. Faith inspires charity and so it will inspire the rich to give to the poor directly.
Become an Apprentice at a Unique Catholic Art School: the Stabat Mater Studio
The Manuscript Illumination, Calligraphy and Icons of Nicholas Hughes, an Orthodox monk from West Virginia
Chalice Palls Hand Embroidered by Kathryn Laffrey
Kathryn is currently studying for her Master of Sacred Arts at Pontifex University. She is based in Michigan. You can commission works from her, and I recommend he embroidery, particularly at kl-artstudio.com
Rolling Back the Tide of Post Vatican II Iconoclasm: the Newly Revealed Wall Painting at the Oxford Oratory
Whitewashing over wall paintings has always been a common measure taken by those who wish to remove images from churches. Applying a coat of paint is cheaper and quicker than replastering the surface! Islamic iconoclasts at Hagia Sophia, Protestant Reformers in 16th-century England, and, it seems, Catholic iconoclasts of the 1970s all resorted to this method of obliterating sacred art to hide the beauty of the Church.
The Traditional Formation of the Artist is Mystagogical Catechesis and a Formation for the New Evangelisation
The fruits of a traditional artistic training in the formation of the person are such, I would say, that it would be useful too (with minimal adaption) for anybody, regardless of his personal vocation. And so would be of interest not just to artists, but to all people; (and especially those who are interested in the formation of children). It is a training in the via pulchritudinis and is the formation of the New Evangelisation, I suggest.
Sarum Use Vespers and Liturgical Art - Heaven on Earth
The Scala Foundation's mission is to transform American and, hence, Western culture through beauty in education and worship so that we are formed by grace to change society, one personal relationship at a time. To the degree that each of us contributes to this ideal, we will help create a culture of beauty that speaks of the Christian Faith and Western values.
History, Salvation History and the Christian Story in Art
The image of Our Lady portrays her uniqueness in being the God Bearer, (‘Theotokos’ in Greek). On the other hand the unburning fire in Mary is the fire of Pentecost by which the Church was established and which is the divine life which is the gift of the Holy Spirit to all who are baptized into the Church.
Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bad for Sacred Art?
Art is as good as it looks. If there is more and better art by this measure as a result of AI then that is a good thing and I would be happy to see it. It seems similar to me to the situation that arose when photography was invented, or when musicians could start to use computers to create music. Perhaps in this new situation, we will give the person who asks Chat GBT the right questions, or even the programmer who created it the right questions the credit for being the artist!